Providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council proposing amendment of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to the date by which the Mayor must submit to Council his operating budget message, proposed operating budget ordinance, and proposed capital budget and capital program, and the date by which the Planning Commission must prepare and submit to the Mayor its recommended capital budget and capital program; fixing the date of a special election for such purpose; prescribing the form of ballot question to be voted on; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election.

THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:

SECTION 1.

There shall be submitted for the approval or disapproval of the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia at the election to be held May 17, 2005, an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to the date by which the Mayor must submit to Council his operating budget message, proposed operating budget ordinance, and proposed capital budget and capital program, and the date by which the Planning Commission must prepare and submit to the Mayor its recommended capital budget and capital program, as contained in Resolution No. 040819, approved by Council on

, 2004, and filed in the Office of the Clerk of Council.

SECTION 2.

There shall be placed on the ballot the following question to be answered “Yes” or “No” by the qualified electors participating in the election:

Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to require the Mayor to submit an operating budget message, proposed operating budget ordinance, and proposed capital budget and capital program to Council at an earlier date than now required, and to make conforming changes to the date by which the City Planning Commission must submit its recommended capital budget and program to the Mayor?

SECTION 3. The Clerk of Council is hereby directed to have printed in pamphlet form, in sufficient number for general distribution, the proposed amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter as set forth in Resolution No. 040819 together with the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance.

SECTION 4.

The Clerk of Council is hereby directed to cause to be published in three (3) newspapers of general circulation in the City and in the Legal Intelligencer the proposed amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, together with the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance, once a week during the three (3) weeks preceding the election on May 17, 2005; and further, at such other time and in such other manner as she may consider desirable.

SECTION 5. The Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to issue a proclamation giving at least thirty (30) days’ notice of such election. The Clerk of Council shall cause a copy of the proclamation to be published, together with the notice provided for in Section 4 of this Ordinance.

SECTION 6.

The appropriate officers are authorized and directed to take such action as may be required for the holding of an election on the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance as provided for by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

End